Today, I will be answering one of the reader questions. Here is the question.
“Hi Ian, I have a beautiful white cat. I adopted her when she was 9 months old from the animal shelter. She is about 3 years old now and has really blossomed into a gorgeous cat. When I adopted her she had short fur kinda rough and she was skinny. Now she is big, but not fat. She has beautiful semi long fur with a really fluffy tail and beautiful light green eyes.
I’ve been wondering lately what breed she could be, I googled it and she resembles mostly the Maine Coon and the Norwegian forest in a white of course. Is there a way to know for sure what breed she is? I could send you a picture if it helps. Thanks, Josee”
Hi Josse, you said your cat looks beautiful, I bet it is. Anyway, here are some characteristics of Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest to help you determine your cat’s breed. Also, never forget that most cats, especially your cat, is unlikely to be an actual breed, as there are only about 3% of entire cat’s population that are purebred. However, all cats across any breed show some common characteristics you can find from one breed to another. Let’s start with the Maine Coon.
Maine Coon has a glossy, heavy and water-resistant coat. Its long fur on the ruff, stomach and britches protect the cat from wet and snow, while its fur is shorter on the back and neck to keep it from tangling in the underbrush. Its coat flows smoothly, which is almost maintenance-free.
The most important features of this breed are its head, body shape, texture and that shags of the coat. Maine Coon’s head is slightly longer, slightly concave profile high cheekbones, large ears that are moderately pointed, wide at the base and well tufted inside. It has medium-long neck, broad chest and long torso. Its tail is as long as its torso. Maybe the most distinctive feature for this breed is the eyes, which are round, large, expressive and set a slightly oblique angle. Throughout the history of this breed, there has been no restriction on colors and patters, well of course, with the exception of the pointed Siamese pattern. Like most breeds, Maine Coon’s eye color range from green, gold, green-gold, blue eyes, etc. Generally speaking, the Maine Coon’s appearance is of well-balanced, rectangular cat.
Maine Coon cats are slow to develop, and they often achieve their full size at the age of 3 to 5 years old. Their character remains kittenish throughout their lives; they are gentle and good-natured despite of its big size. They rarely meow, and their soft tiny voice doesn’t seem to fit their size. Their voice is also distinctive from other cats, as they have this distinctive chirping trill which they often use from cajoling their people to courting.
Norwegian Forest cat on the other hand, have developed their physical characteristics from the cold climate. They have thick double coats that can keep them warm. Its coat is fluffy around the neck. But they shed much of their coat’s dense in spring, leaving the coat look lighter than it is in wintertime.
They also have long tails covered profusely with fur. One of the most distinctive physical characteristics of this breed is its face. It posses a sweet expression on its triangular shape face. They have large round paws and heavy tufting between their toes.
Like Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest cats also come in different colors and patterns, including the tabby, tabby-patched, solid and tortoiseshell pattern. Their eyes can be copper, gold or green. This is quite a large size, as male Norwegian Forest cats can weigh from 10lbs to 16lbs, while females from 8lbs to 12lbs.
Every color and pattern of this breed is acceptable, but with the exception of hybridization shown from its colors, like those resulting in color chocolate, lavender, lilac, Himalayan pattern or white with these combinations. The color and pattern of this breed should be distinct. For classic, they have the mackerel and spotted tabbies, but these patterns should be well-marked and even.
If you’re still not sure of the breed of your cat, then you can always take it to its vet. Most veterinarians are well-versed in cat breeds.
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